Exploring Cyber Harassment among Youth Who Use Social Media

Abstract

This is an anthropological research which studies cyber harassment on social media among the young people of University of Dhaka. Cyber harassment is an umbrella term and consists several harassing behaviors. There is no concrete definition of it. In general, it is defined as intentional and repeated behavior that is directed to someone through the digital platforms in order to disturb, harm or scare them. Social media is a digital communication platform which is used most by almost all age group around the world. In our country, young people are the main user of social media platforms. So, this study is very relevant in the context of our country to understand cyber harassment. Anthropological methods and its core theoretical tenets which encourage in-depth study of any issue have provided a good framework to this research. This study uses both qualitative and quantitative methods including ten in-depth interviews and a questionnaire based online survey with fifty informants. The present study observes young user’s perception regarding cyber harassment, the nature of cyber harassment from user’s personal experience in social media. Several factors like technical skills, knowledge regarding social media, gender, capital, social network etc. play a great role in shaping their perception. This study also illuminates young people’s understanding of cyber harassment, reasons behind their mild or severe dichotomy of harassment and activities that are considered as cyber harassment by them. This study also explores the nature and extent of cyber harassment from young people’s personal experience on social media. It also observes user’s awareness on personal security through the safety measures they follow to stay safe and the strategies they take after facing cyber harassment on social media. The whole study has been analyzed using Arjun Appadurai’s Technoscapes theory, Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of capital and symbolic violence. This study concludes with a summary of the whole research, some additional opinion of the participants about this research and the role of anthropologists to work in this issue.